On Vineyard Tour, Rep. Bill Keating Gets an Earful from Constituents

Health care, immigration, the federal budget and the general tenor in Washington these days were all topics for discussion Monday during a daylong swing through the Vineyard by Cong. Bill Keating.

The visit included coffee with constituents at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, a visit to Vineyard schools, interviews with elected officials and Island newspapers and a stop at Cronig’s Market in Vineyard Haven to wish the business a happy 100th birthday.

During a late morning stop at the Gazette office, he described the atmosphere in the nation’s capital. “It’s a different environment,” Mr. Keating said. “We’re in a period of turmoil. The basic freedoms of our country are being challenged by our own president.”

At the Hebrew Center Monday morning Mr. Keating, who was elected to a third term in November, encountered frustrated constituents.

On immigration: "The system we have now is broken."
— Steve Myrick

One woman said she can no longer sleep through the night for fear of irresponsible military action by the new administration.

Mr. Keating said while he is concerned, there are constitutional checks and balances.

“There are protections here. Courts are one of them, the public is another, Congress is another, and that’s the one that has acted too slowly,” Mr. Keating said. “Feel free to go to sleep at night, but get up in the morning and do something.”

He also addressed his own frustration about the lack of progress on immigration reform.

“The system we have now is broken,” he said. “Much of that lies at the door of Congress, and much of that lies at the door of the House. If Democrats were the majority in the House, we would pass a comprehensive immigration bill. This is so doable, and so frustrating. It hurts our country. It also hurts our economy.”

The congressman said the President’s budget proposal, which among other things calls for a large increase in defense spending and large cuts in the Environmental Protection Agency, the state department and federal spending on the arts, so extreme that it may never be considered in Congress. But he said budget proposals coming from Republicans in Congress pose a threat to people who live on Martha’s Vineyard through potential cuts to the Army Corps of Engineers and environmental research programs.

“It will be modified. but it is the framework for the president’s agenda, so it’s important,” he said of the budget.

He also warned that if Republicans repeal the Affordable Care Act, it will have significant impacts on Massachusetts residents through increases to out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses for those on Medicare and prescription drug coverage and jeopardizing funding for MassHealth, which serves more than 300,000 adults in the commonwealth. Efforts to address the opioid epidemic could also suffer, he said.

“On the opioid issue, it will have an important impact on that, probably one of the most significant impacts,” he said. “Behavioral help and medical help is available under insurance policies, not just under the Affordable Care Act, but it requires it of the private sector too.”

On foreign affairs, Mr. Keating also said it was clear to him after a recent visit to South Korea and Japan that President Trump’s policies threaten stability in the region.

“Without the feeling that the U.S. is going to honor our treaties, it’s serious. North Korea, and our inability to look like we have our act together, frankly, it’s a great threat. It’s not just the missiles that could reach the United States. We have a treaty. If you’re standing in Seoul, in four minutes, North Korea could just wipe the city out, which would bring us right into war.”

Comments (10)

Trump supporter , Vineyard Haven, MA

Mr. Keating, you are part of the country's problem. Perhaps you could "do something" by embracing change and try working with the president by representing the people that elected you, rather than running around spreading dread and fear. Why is it always so hard for people to look ahead to the possibilities instead of looking back at what they "could" lose? Don't companies take risks for growth? Maybe if the American people would give our president some breathing room we would see some positive changes taking place. But fear stifles us.

I agree completely with the Trump supporters from Vineyard Haven. Every responsible military person see's the issues with our military. 50℅ of our planes can't fly because of lack of spare parts. 9 trillion extra in debt from the last president and what do we have to show. 47 million on food stamps, the Middle East in worst turmoil than when he took over. I guess winning the Nobel Peace prize for "hope" not action was just what the world needed. Trump is right, he inherited "a mess". He also inherited a disaster, ie Iran and N. Korea to begin. Let the man do his job with true support from Congress and all the people.

I was present at the Hebrew Center for Congressman Keating's appearance and have a very different view of the purpose and outcome. I believe his appearance was to try to eleviate some of dread and fear already present among the people Congressman Keating and others represent, not create it. Speaking only for myself, I am not afraid to embrace positive change; looking ahead to possibilities and not what one could potentially lose, is the very definition of change; however, I am very anxious regarding the type of change that could be detrimental to "We the People." When day after day, we are exposed to tearing down, not building up, there is exponentially a growing feeling of concern for our current quality of life, far reaching into the future. I would agree the Democrats have to "do something" with in it's ranks to encourage engagement, to reflect positive change, growth and to educate voters. Yet the present climate, unfortunately, precipiates reactionary strategies, rather than long range planning. I believe in your right to support what your conscious dictates, but I would encourage you as I would and am anyone else to look at a broader view of why outrage, dread and fear have awakened a slumbering, complacent nation. A nation, no longer willing to only be spectators, but participants. This is change we should all embrace.

To the Trump supporter..how can anyone give Trump some breathing room when he doesn't give himself breathing room.. he whole life he has lied and bully and thrown disparaging comments against anyone that objects to him. He is not an ethical person..look at his past

In response to your comment. I do not know President Trump personally, therefore, I am not comfortable with agreeing with your comments about him. While I can say I don't agree with everything he says and does, we all have "dirty laundry". The media as you know paints him as an evil person. I don't believe he is evil, I believe he does have a genuine concern for this country. And for a moment, try to put yourself in his shoes as far as "breathing room", he certainly has arrows coming at him from all angles. As I mentioned previously, he will not be able to satisfy everyone. He still deserves a fair chance.

These snowflakes have to get over it. They lost and their party has become a marginalized regional entity. The country has been changing over the last 6 years with democrats losing over 1400 seats nationwide. Thee was a time when democrats represented the working class. Today they represent the non working class and the super wealthy.

In my journey to reach the age of retirement (still work ready), I do not consider myself fragile, sensitive...ok, I'll own that one! However, I definitely have worked hard for over 45 years and I am definitely not perceived as wealthy in a worldly view. 8 years later, there are those who are still not "over it."
So please, forgive me if it takes a little more time.

Peter, watch the news & Youtube and you will see how you guys are beating the heck out of Trump supporters. We are totally outnumbered here on the island and it is only because we have families to support, need our jobs and dont want our kids harassed any more than they already are that is why we are forced to remain anonymous.
There is no doubt you know who we are seeing you have been around here for a while.

We are anonymous because we live in a community that is overwhelmingly liberal. Liberals tend to be closed minded and hateful and criticize anyone who doesn't agree with them. We're glad to live with you but we don't think you're glad to live with us.